Box Score SCHENECTADY, N.Y.--Senior quarterback Tyler Ward passed for 275 yards on 25 completions and accounted for four touchdowns to lead the Western New England University football team to a convincing 36-14 non-conference win at Union College on Saturday evening at Frank Bailey Field. The visiting Golden Bears extend their school-record NCAA start to 6-0 and have won seven in a row dating to the 2013 season finale, while the Dutchmen fall to 0-6 against a tough schedule that includes the Liberty League circuit.

Junior linebacker Dean Soucie led a Western New England defense that held Union to 125 yards passing among 276 in total offense, making three solo tackles and seven total including a sack for 12 yards. Senior BEAR Ryan Nolte also had seven total tackles (3 solo, 1 PBU), followed by senior linebacker Kyle Jones (1 solo, 8 total), freshman defensive back Sam Olsson (1 solo, 9 total, 1 PBU) and senior BEAR Zachary Fleming (1 solo, 8 total) who also picked off two interceptions.

Senior Tucker Schumitz had eight catches for 84 yards and senior Kevin Cook ran for 52 yards and a touchdown for WNE, which recorded 489 yards on 88 plays for the day. The 'Bears also posted 36 first downs in the victory and held a 33:38 to 26:22 advantage in time of possession.

Senior Darnel Thomas led the Union offense with 134 yards rushing on 25 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown plunge to give the Dutchmen at 7-0 lead with 8 minutes and 35 seconds left in the opening quarter. It was his third 100-yard game of the season and sixth of his career. Freshman quarterback Dante Cioffi made the first start of his career at Union and was seven for 25 for 106 yards. Kyle Reynolds had four catches for 69 yards.

Thomas' opening score capped a nine-play, 70-yard drive in 4:58 and that touchdown was the only scoring of the first quarter.

The Golden Bears made it 7-6 with 10:22 remaining in the first half. Ward hit junior Andy St. Fleur for nine yards but the two-point conversion pass attempt failed. This was a five-play, 54-yard drive.

Western New England took the lead for good 4 minutes later when Cook scored on a 1 yard run to wrap up a six-play, 82-yard drive that consumed 1:48 and the kick made it 13-7. On the ensuing kickoff, a Union returner went 65 yards to the WNE 30-yard line. But sophomore kicker Kevin Patterson forced a fumble that was recovered by junior Kevin Degnan at the 30. The Golden Bears also scored on this drive, which went 11 plays and 70 yards in 3:29, as Ward rushed in from 2 yards out for a 20-7 lead. The Dutchmen threatened right before the half but a pass was intercepted by Fleming at the WNE 1 with 48 seconds left.

Ward scored on a 4-yard TD run 4:57 into the third quarter and after the PAT kick failed, WNE had a commanding 26-7 lead. This drive took nine plays and 88 yards in 2:59.

The 'Bears later took over from their 21 with 8:43 left in the stanza, and 12 plays and 4:40 later, Ward rushed in from 8 yards out for his third touchdown on the ground and the PAT made it 33-7. A Patterson 32-yard field goal with 1:06 remaining closed out the third quarter scoring at 36-7.

Blake Geller later came in at quarterback for the Dutchmen, and he found Reynolds for a two yard touchdown reception with 5:47 in the fourth quarter. This completed a 10-play, 75-yard drive that took exactly 4 minutes.

Jake LaRovera and Jason Nelson made 10 tackles each for the Dutchmen.

Western New England, which opened a stretch of three straight road games with the win at Union, plays a New England Football Conference game at MIT next Saturday at 5 p.m. Union will host the University of Rochester on Oct. 25 at 1:30 p.m. for Homecoming & Family Weekend in Liberty League action.

(Editor's note: Union College Athletic Communications Office contributed to this game recap.)